Lady’s 36 Hours in Cirencester Guide

I can’t get enough of the Cotswolds. If there’s one part of England I love for weekend getaways from London, it’s here. Golden stone houses, storybook villages, and sheep-filled pastures are my perfect fairy tale. So I’m excited to return to the area to spend 36 hours in Cirencester.

36 Hours in Cirencester

Over in Gloucestershire, Cirencester is one of the largest towns in the Cotswolds. Dating all the way back to Roman times, layers of history give it a unique charm.

I’m here on a weekend trip with my boyfriend, and we can’t wait to peel those layers back during our stay. This is one of the best places to visit in the Cotswolds, after all.

The Potting Shed Pub

We start our 36 hours in Cirencester by driving from London to the Cotswolds on a Saturday morning. We breathe in the fresh countryside air on the way, and we know it’s going to be a great getaway.

Before arriving in town, we stop for lunch at The Potting Shed Pub in Malmesbury.

It’s just about the sweetest place I’ve ever seen, and I want to wrap up the timber beams and cozy fireplaces and bundle them home.

Where to Stay in Cirencester

After a leisurely lunch in the dining room, we head to Cirencester and check into the Kings Head Hotel. It’s right in the heart of town and our room is cozy and has great decor.

Settled, we head outside and start exploring. What we find delights.

Market Place

The Market Place and impressive Church of St John the Baptist dominate the town center, and we can’t help popping inside the latter to see the stunning interior and fan-vaulted ceiling.

Cirencester Streets

But the real highlight of our 36 hours in Cirencester is exploring the town’s maze of tiny streets.

Skinny Black Jack Street has lots of great restaurants and pubs, and I duck down every little alley that radiates from it to discover more of the town’s charms.

But perhaps the prettiest street in Cirencester is Cecily Hill, which leads to the expansive grounds of Cirencester Park.

The street is bursting with lovely homes and gardens, and prepares us for the beauty in the park ahead.

Cirencester Park

When we get there, we meander along the main path, taking in a folly here and a lake there. As we turn to head back into town, we get a stunning view of the Church of St John the Baptist.

Things to Do in Cirencester

We spend the rest of our 36 hours in Cirencester enjoying riverside walks and taking in the town’s shops and cafes.

We pop into the Corn Hall and Corn Hall Arcade to see the local craft market and do a bit of browsing, and eventually enjoy a sushi dinner at a local restaurant.

Sadly, limited opening hours mean that we miss out on the Corinium Museum and New Brewery Arts center.

Weekend in Cirencester

But it’s always good to save a few things for the next visit, and by the time we leave this lovely place we know that there will be one.

In fact, there has been one since I wrote this blog post. If you want to see more, take a look at my itinerary for Bray and the Cotswolds.

Have you been to the Cotswolds? How would you spend 36 hours in Cirencester?

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